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La. HowAnn.

. Gar-Couplings. No. \42,395. Patented Septmberz, 1873.

FRANKLIN E. HOWARD, on ennnsno, NEW Youn.

IMPRQVEMEN'T IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 142,395, dated September 2, 1873; application filed June 28, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN E. HOWARD, of Geneseo, lin the county of Livingston and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Gar-Goupling, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved coupling, partly in section, to show the construction. Fig. 2 is a front view of one part. Fig. 3 is a detail section taken through the line a: .'10, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved car-coupling, which shall be so constructed as to couple the cars automatically as they are run together, and which may be uncoupled from the top or sides of the cars, as may be desired. v'lhe'invention consists in the draw-heads and the coupling-blocks, constructed and arranged to operate in connection with each other, as hereinafter fully described; in the combination of the chain, roller, and levers with the draw-head and the coupling-block; and in the right-angled bar, in combination with the draw-head and coupling-block, to adapt them to receive an ordinary coupling-link, as hereinafter fully described. v

A represents the draw-head of the one car, the cavity of which is made large enough to receive the draw-head B of the other car. G is a coupling-block, which ts into a recess in the upper side of the draw-head A, so that its lower end may project into the cavity of said draw-head A sufciently to enter the recess in the upper side of the other draw-head, to hook upon the block D, dovetailed and bolted to said draw-head B. The inner sides of the coupling-blocks C and D are made hook-shaped, to enable them to take a firm hold upon each other. The movement of the coupling-block C is limited by a pin or setscrew, E, which passes through a hole in the draw-head A and enters a groove in the said block G. To the upper end of the couplingblock C is attached a ring or other handle, F, to enable it to be conveniently raised by hand, when desired,\for uncoupling the cars. The coupling-block C may be held in place, when raised, by a pin, G, inserted in a hole in the said block G, above the draw-head A. H is an elbow or bent lever, which is pivoted at its angle in a slot in the upper part of the draw-head A. The forward arm of the lever H enters a slot in the couplingblock C, so that the said block C may be raised to uncouple the cars by operating the said lever H. To the end of the upper arm of the bent lever H is attached the end of a chain, I, which passes around a concaved roller, J, pivoted to the forward end of the car.

With the upper end of the chain I is connected the end of a bent lever, K, which is pivoted at its bend to the forward end of the car in such a position that its upper end can be reached and operated from the top of the car.

Withthe chain I are also connected the inner ends of two levers, L, which are pivoted to the forward end of the car in such positions that their outer ends may be conveniently reached and operated from the sides of the car.

M is a collar formed upon the draw-bar B, to prevent it from being forced too far into the other draw-head A as the cars are run to gether.

In the forward part of the draw-bar A is formed a hole, a', to receive an ordinary coupling-pin, to hold one end of an ordinary coupling-link, the other end of which is passed over the coupling-block D, where it is secured in place by the square angle-bar N, one arm of which is inserted in a square hole in the draw-head B. The hole in the draw-head B inclines a little to one side, and a notch is formed in the side of the bar N, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the said bar will lock itself.

rlhe other arm of the bar N projects forward and rests upon the top of the couplingblock D, so as to confine the linln in placewhen used.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The draw-heads A and B and the coupling-blocks C and D, constructed and an ranged to operate in connection with each other, substantially as herein shown and. described.

2. The combination of the chain I, roller J', and levers H K L L with the draw-head A and couplingblock C, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. The right-angled ber N, in combination With the drew-head B and coupling-block G, to adapt them to receive an ordinary coupling-link, substantially as herein shown and described.

FRANKLIN E. HOWARD.

Witnesses:

Guns. M. VANCE. W. O. CURTISS. 

